FDA names interim director to women's health post

The FDA named Theresa Toigo acting director of its Office of Women's Health (OWH).She replaces Susan Wood, who quit this month in protest after the agency refused to permit OTC sales of Barr's Plan B emergency contraceptive -- a decision Wood said was politically-motivated.Toigo is an FDA veteran who also heads the agency's Office of Special Health Issues. The FDA will conduct a search for a permanent replacement, an FDA spokeswoman told MM&M, although a timeframe for finding a permanent OWH director is not being given.Lester Crawford, FDA commissioner, announced Toigo's appointment last Friday.Crawford's own confirmation had been held up by Senate Democrats until the administration set a Sept. 1 deadline for FDA to make a decision on Plan B. On Aug. 26, however, Crawford ordered a 60-day public comment period on Plan B, saying the regulatory and policy issues raised by Barr's application -- notably, whether Plan B can switch to OTC status for women ages 16 and older and remain prescription-only for those under 16 -- were too weighty to be decided behind closed doors.